The Union Pacific Railroad (“UP”) was formed in 1862. The headquarters of the UP has been located in Omaha, Nebraska since its formation. The UP is the largest railroad in the United States. It owns and operates track in several states, including California.
In 1996, the UP acquired the Southern Pacific Railroad (including SP’s liabilities for job-related injuries sustained by SP employees) via merger. The UP owns and operates several railroad yards in California including the Intermodal Container Transfer Facility in Wilmington, California (which serves the ports of Long Beach and L.A.), and the Davis Yard in Roseville, California.
Until approximately the early to mid-1950s, the UP utilized steam engines to haul its train cars. Steam engines contained various asbestos-containing materials including boiler lagging, pipe insulation, cloth, gaskets and brakes. Most of these products were handled by railroad workers, including boiler makers, laggers, machinists and mechanics during maintenance and repair work performed on the engines in the roundhouse and other repair shops on the railroad premises.
During the mid to late 1950s, steam engines were replaced by diesel locomotives. Diesel locomotives contained various asbestos-containing products including pipe insulation, gaskets and brakes. These products were also handled by railroad workers, including machinists, insulators and mechanics during maintenance and repair work performed on the locomotives in the roundhouse and other repair shops on the railroad premises.
The handling, removal and installation of these asbestos-containing products on steam engines and diesel locomotives caused the release of hazardous levels of respirable asbestos fiber and dust from the products into the breathing zone of the workers, thereby causing the workers to be exposed to unsafe levels of asbestos. Exposure to asbestos can cause asbestos-related diseases including mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis.
The rights of railroad workers who have sustained injuries caused by asbestos exposure, and other causes, are set forth in the Federal Employers’ Liability Act, codified in 45 U.S.C. section 51. If you have a prior occupational history of working around and with asbestos containing products, please call our asbestos law firm to talk to one of our mesothelioma attorneys who exclusively specialize in handling these types of lawsuits.